I thought it was Spring, but you could have fooled me because it is Winter here! We keep getting "Wintry mix" weather reports across the bottom of the TV screen. Not only that, but there seems to be a resurgence of the "flu"in our area. For that reason, we decided to avoid the large crowd for the cantata presentation at our church today. In spite of the rain and the chilly temperature, we did attend the bible study or Sunday School this morning. As I explained to Lee earlier, we could probably safely attend the early class full of older couples (like us), because most people our age do not venture out if they are ill. We were safe because half of the class was absent.
This afternoon we have stayed indoors and the warmth of the house is cozy despite the cold rain and wind. Lee has been watching the "March Madness" basketball tournaments; however the last time I looked, he was fast asleep in his recliner. Actually, he is waiting for the Carolina game later this evening, but doubt he will make it for the later game for Duke. Anything after 10:00 is lost in this house for both of us!
We are looking forward to some days at the beach beginning Friday through Wednesday of next week. We will be joined by our Virginia family, their two sons, and we are taking one of our teen-age grandaughters with us. I hope the childeren will not be too disappointed, because so far, the weather does not look warm! Maybe it will change by the week-end......sure do hope so!
Lee is doing extremely well! He is in the process......very slow process, I might add, of reducing his prednisone from 10 mg to 5 mg. Right now, he is down to 8 mg. and so far is doing great. The reason we are reducing it slowly is because he tried moving down from 10 to 5, and had difficulty breathing and was extremely fatigued. We convinced his doctor to go very slowly this time, and I believe it is working for him. He continues to take the very strong anti-rejection meds, and we believe his success will be dependent on our being pro-active with labs and monitoring of his medication. His doctor reinforced that line of thinking the last time we were at Duke.
We have stayed in touch with our friend whose husband died on March 9th. She is having to adjust to all the first-time events in her daily life without her husband of 47 years. She is fortunate to be surrounded by her children and grandchildren, extended family members, her church and a huge support group of friends. I know she is a very strong person, and will be able to carry on independently. Her sister has invited her to go with her to Ireland this Summer..............I encouraged her to do that when we talked.
This week begins with lots to do! Eight guests will arrive around 6:30 tomorrow evening for a cook-out ( we are hoping the weather clears ), and the remainder of the week, we will be getting ready for our short vacation at the beach, (also hoping the weather clears!).
Until the next blog when we return...............HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!
More Later.................................................Brenda
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
The Trip
On Monday, March 11, Lee and I departed around 11:00 a.m. for the trip to Brooklet, Georgia. This is the home of our good friend who had recently expired on March 9th. We had read his wife's e-mails the past two weeks, and after talking with her a week earlier, we knew that his recovery was probably not going to happen. It was at that time that Lee said he wanted to go to his funeral, whenever it would be. I agreed. We had discussed this earlier with the two other couples who also planned to be there for his wife in the event that he did die.
And so it was, that we began the long journey to Brooklet, Georgia ( which is a very small town about 30 miles West of Savannah ). We had made reservations to stay in a larger, neighboring town called Statesboro, Ga., which is about the size of Gastonia. Our plans were to meet our friends from Roanoke at the hotel, located in Statesboro. Unfortunately, our other friends from Wilmington, who had planned to go, had to cancel because of a previously scheduled surgery for the wife.
Leaving @ 11:00 gave us an estimated DOA of 5:00 that evening. Along the way we checked with the couple traveling from Roanoke and discovered that we were approximately one hour ahead of them, and planned to be at the hotel upon their arrival. Lee drove all the way, refusing my offers to drive. He explained that it would take too long with my driving ( I refuse to go 80 + miles per hour ), and it would bother him more to be my passenger. I let him drive all the way there.
The trip was uneventful, and we were looking forward to (according to our directions), exiting and with one short turn being immediate to the hotel. Not to be! We looked all over Statesboro for the LaQuinta Inn, and had almost decided it was not even there. Finally after the game of "Let's just look around", I persuaded Lee to stop at a convenience store and ask a clerk for the directions. When he returned to the car, I asked if he had the correct information, to which he angrily responded, "unfortunately, I do not speak Indian!". In exasperation, he called the Inn, and the very kind clerk patiently guided us to our destination.
We arrived as two very "grouchy" travelers! Tired and hungry! Were we surprised to see our friends from Roanoke's car sitting directly in front of us in the pull-through at LaQuinta! When we greeted them, we explained how it was that we unexpectedly toured Statesboro!
After a short rest, following the unloading and checking-in, the four of us decided to eat dinner around 6 p.m. and make it to the receiving around 7:30. ( the receiving was to be from 5-8 ) Perhaps most of the people would have left, or the line very short at that time. We arrived at the funeral home and were somewhat dismayed to see the sea of cars. Once inside the building, we found they were all there for our friend.
We were in the line for over an hour waiting to speak to our friend's family; however, we were able to meet many people and learn much more about our friend. It seems the entire towns of Brooklet and most of Statesboro had come to pay their respects. He was spoken of with great admiration from everyone we encountered. So many people told us of experiences that had influenced their lives in positive ways. He was described as a working man, always ready to help others, and even though he was a man of few words, his silence spoke volumes toward helping his fellow-man. We would have expected no less. Having known him for a short two and one-half years, we had come to respect this quiet, insightful man. His dignity was unsurpassed. We knew he was a person to be trusted.
The funeral was the following day at their church in Brooklet @ 11:00 a.m. We were honored to be named as honorary pallbearers. Our hearts were filled with grief and saddness for losing our friend. The pain felt by his wife was almost unbearable, and we pray daily that she will find peace during these difficult months ahead.
Even though the trip was fast and furious, and we were exhausted the next day, we are glad that we were able to pay this final tribute to our dear friend and his family.
More Later.............................................Brenda
And so it was, that we began the long journey to Brooklet, Georgia ( which is a very small town about 30 miles West of Savannah ). We had made reservations to stay in a larger, neighboring town called Statesboro, Ga., which is about the size of Gastonia. Our plans were to meet our friends from Roanoke at the hotel, located in Statesboro. Unfortunately, our other friends from Wilmington, who had planned to go, had to cancel because of a previously scheduled surgery for the wife.
Leaving @ 11:00 gave us an estimated DOA of 5:00 that evening. Along the way we checked with the couple traveling from Roanoke and discovered that we were approximately one hour ahead of them, and planned to be at the hotel upon their arrival. Lee drove all the way, refusing my offers to drive. He explained that it would take too long with my driving ( I refuse to go 80 + miles per hour ), and it would bother him more to be my passenger. I let him drive all the way there.
The trip was uneventful, and we were looking forward to (according to our directions), exiting and with one short turn being immediate to the hotel. Not to be! We looked all over Statesboro for the LaQuinta Inn, and had almost decided it was not even there. Finally after the game of "Let's just look around", I persuaded Lee to stop at a convenience store and ask a clerk for the directions. When he returned to the car, I asked if he had the correct information, to which he angrily responded, "unfortunately, I do not speak Indian!". In exasperation, he called the Inn, and the very kind clerk patiently guided us to our destination.
We arrived as two very "grouchy" travelers! Tired and hungry! Were we surprised to see our friends from Roanoke's car sitting directly in front of us in the pull-through at LaQuinta! When we greeted them, we explained how it was that we unexpectedly toured Statesboro!
After a short rest, following the unloading and checking-in, the four of us decided to eat dinner around 6 p.m. and make it to the receiving around 7:30. ( the receiving was to be from 5-8 ) Perhaps most of the people would have left, or the line very short at that time. We arrived at the funeral home and were somewhat dismayed to see the sea of cars. Once inside the building, we found they were all there for our friend.
We were in the line for over an hour waiting to speak to our friend's family; however, we were able to meet many people and learn much more about our friend. It seems the entire towns of Brooklet and most of Statesboro had come to pay their respects. He was spoken of with great admiration from everyone we encountered. So many people told us of experiences that had influenced their lives in positive ways. He was described as a working man, always ready to help others, and even though he was a man of few words, his silence spoke volumes toward helping his fellow-man. We would have expected no less. Having known him for a short two and one-half years, we had come to respect this quiet, insightful man. His dignity was unsurpassed. We knew he was a person to be trusted.
The funeral was the following day at their church in Brooklet @ 11:00 a.m. We were honored to be named as honorary pallbearers. Our hearts were filled with grief and saddness for losing our friend. The pain felt by his wife was almost unbearable, and we pray daily that she will find peace during these difficult months ahead.
Even though the trip was fast and furious, and we were exhausted the next day, we are glad that we were able to pay this final tribute to our dear friend and his family.
More Later.............................................Brenda
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Insomnia & daylight savings time
This will be my third attempt at writing this blog. First, aboout two weeks ago, then last week, and now at four in the morning because I cannot sleep!
From time to time, I experience bouts of sleeplessness, but this has been an entire night. I know it is the result of learning that our good friend who had been @ Duke the past four weeks, died yesterday afternoon. I had prepared myself for his dying, but had not prepared myself for his excruciatingly painful ending. I was not there, but the story related to me was very disturbing.
I will share his story with you.
During the first few months following his lung transplant in July 2010, a nodule found in his new lung proved to be lymphoma. Chemotherapy was given and the nodule disappeared. He was declared free of the cancer. During the next year, he experienced several other unrelated crisis and miraculously pulled through each one. We, along with all of his friends, celebrated each of these renewals with joy. This last one, however, was one that completely destroyed his entire body. That, apparently was the treatment he chose to have for the leukemia that had developed quickly during the past three months.
He had been given the option of a) doing nothing, and living one month, 2) going home and receiving blood transfusions and living up to one year , 3) or take the strong chemotherapy and if it worked, he could be cured. After much deliberation with his wife and children, he chose the chemotherapy. The odds were stacked against him as he was told two out of three do not survive the treatment. He died three weeks after the treatment with intense pain and insurmountable suffering.
And so it was with a heavy heart, concern for his wife and family, plans to make the long trek to Georgia, that I could not fall asleep last evening. I must be honest with acknowledging these emotions. I admit that I see the possibility of my being in a similar situation with losing Lee. No matter how good our life is now and how well Lee is doing, I fall under the dark, heavy cloud of worry when I am forced to see it in another.
So..................here I am, alone with you and the computer, wide awake.....no sleep in site! Unfortunately, I have a busy Sunday.....Church............a wedding shower in the afternoon.........Will stop for now, soon it will be time for coffee and breakfast................all this on the first morning of daylight savings time!
More Later..............................................Brenda
From time to time, I experience bouts of sleeplessness, but this has been an entire night. I know it is the result of learning that our good friend who had been @ Duke the past four weeks, died yesterday afternoon. I had prepared myself for his dying, but had not prepared myself for his excruciatingly painful ending. I was not there, but the story related to me was very disturbing.
I will share his story with you.
During the first few months following his lung transplant in July 2010, a nodule found in his new lung proved to be lymphoma. Chemotherapy was given and the nodule disappeared. He was declared free of the cancer. During the next year, he experienced several other unrelated crisis and miraculously pulled through each one. We, along with all of his friends, celebrated each of these renewals with joy. This last one, however, was one that completely destroyed his entire body. That, apparently was the treatment he chose to have for the leukemia that had developed quickly during the past three months.
He had been given the option of a) doing nothing, and living one month, 2) going home and receiving blood transfusions and living up to one year , 3) or take the strong chemotherapy and if it worked, he could be cured. After much deliberation with his wife and children, he chose the chemotherapy. The odds were stacked against him as he was told two out of three do not survive the treatment. He died three weeks after the treatment with intense pain and insurmountable suffering.
And so it was with a heavy heart, concern for his wife and family, plans to make the long trek to Georgia, that I could not fall asleep last evening. I must be honest with acknowledging these emotions. I admit that I see the possibility of my being in a similar situation with losing Lee. No matter how good our life is now and how well Lee is doing, I fall under the dark, heavy cloud of worry when I am forced to see it in another.
So..................here I am, alone with you and the computer, wide awake.....no sleep in site! Unfortunately, I have a busy Sunday.....Church............a wedding shower in the afternoon.........Will stop for now, soon it will be time for coffee and breakfast................all this on the first morning of daylight savings time!
More Later..............................................Brenda
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